The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-11-24
A WONDERFUL SPECTACLE.

At daylight on the following morning,
June 9. the Confederate feet, under full head
Of steam, were discovered lying close to the
shore. The craft were respectively known as
The Little Rebel, Bragg, Beauregard, Price,
Sumter, Lowell, Thompson and Van Dorm,
and altogether carried twenty-eight guns
Their commanders were plain steamboat cap
tainS, and the commodore, Edward Mont
gomery, was likewise q river captain. The
Union squadron now began to drop down the
river, and the Confederates opened fire and
advanced to meet them. In few minutes
they were within point blank range, and vol
ley succeeded volley In rapid succession. The
citizens Of Memphis rushed by thousands to
the bluffs to witness the novel scene, for d.
rectly before them, SO near that individuals
could be discerned, a naval battle was raging
In all its herceneas. Suddenly, there steamed
from bend in the river q singular looking
craft which, passing in front Of the Federal
dotilla, darted at full speed against the Beau
regard. It was Col Ellet's Queen OF the
West, and behind her quickly followed
another, the Monarch. The writer, who
was an eyewitness Of the battle,
can do no better than transcribe his de-
scription written at the time: THE destruc-
ton OF the Confederate seemed to be inevita-
bic, but Just a. the fatal blow was about to
be given the Beauregard shsered and the
Queen crashed into the Lowell, cutting her
almost In two aud sinking her in deep water.
Now came the turn Of the Beauregard.
Throwing her bow around, she struck her an
tagonist squarely in the side Just ahead OF the
wheelhouse, causing her to careen until the
whole length Of her hull was visible. A few
moments more and the Queen Of the West
would have sunk, but making her way to the
Arkansas shore she grounded there, and the
lives Of those on board were saved. The
Price by this time had Joined in the fight,
and the Monarch, making q pass at her,
missed; while the Beauregard, endeavoring
at the same instant to strike the Monarch,
likewise missed her and cut away the port
wheel OF the Price. The Benton now arrived
and sent a shot through the boiler Of the
Beauregard, completing her disablement.
The boats were 30 near each other that the
sharpshooters picked of every man who ex.
posed himself.
Thousands OF men, women and children on
the bluffs watch the unequal contest. Swift
ministers OF destruction are flying every
where. Now . ball drops close by the side Of
q gunboat, throwing the spray high in air
again you see it ricochetting along the waite
until It is lost to view, while here and there
Is q gaping rent that tells OF death wound
received by one Of the combatants A thou
sand yards distant the Little Rebel Is sinking.
A shot has gone through her machinery and
torn deep hole In her side, through Wnlcn
the water is pouring in torrent. Commo-
dore Montgomery (who had changed his flag
from the Van Dorm to the Little Rebel early
in the action because the former contained
100000 pounds Of powder, and was prac-
tically out OF the fight had recklessly run
alongside Federal gunboat, hoping to disable
her, but in few moments finds his craft
going down, and with the crew he jumps into
the river and swims to the Arkansas
shore. 1t is running fight for miles. The
Thompson lodges on the river bank, and.
an exploding shell igniting her magazine
she is blown into fragments. The Bragg and
Sumter, although run ashore, are captured
The Van Dorm, with her valuable cargo Of
stores, taken from Fort Pillow, and . trans
port similarly loaded, alone escape. The
Confederate feet Is annihilated. The Fed
eral squadron now come to anchor, small
boats begin to ply back and forth; the trans
ports steam up to their landings; whistles
blow their hallelujahs; the men cheer; the
stars and stripes wave over forty different
decks, and in an hour or two the two regt
ments Of an Indiana brigade, under com
nand Of Col. G. N. Fitch, take possession Of
| Memphis" The Confederate loss in this bat
tie was estimated to be 100 killed and
wounded, and about $50 captured On the
Union side, Col Ellet received q wound il
the leg from which he subsequently died, ant
three men on the Carondelet were injured.